Fifteen Mission Bay High World international baccalaureate school students and their science teacher, Steve Walters, set off May 20 for three days of sailing aboard the tall ship Tole Mour as part of a science-based trip that started in Long Beach and continued on to Catalina Island.

During the trip, the students learned to work the sails, tie off lines, identify the names of the sails (24 in all) and participated in science lessons. They worked in the on-board laboratory studying invertebrates and interacting with a remotely-operated vehicle that sent real-time pictures back to the boat from 100 feet below the surface.

While sailing over to Catalina Island, the students saw Risso dolphins, sea lions and a giant fish called a mola mola. They slept on the deck, watched a movie during the sail and participated in a Polar Bear Plunge at 6:30 a.m.

Off the coast of Catalina Island, the students snorkeled to ob-serve local fish species and plant life. A night dive provided a lesson in bioluminescence as the students dived into the dark ocean to view the bioluminescent plankton that surrounded them. Some students had never used a mask and snorkel before, and said they were delighted to experience a new adventure.

“It was an awesome trip,” said 10th-grader Colin Tandy. “The snorkeling was great and seeing the breeching Risso dolphins was so amazing. There was so much to learn about sailing a tall ship and we were exhausted all of the time, but it was one of the best experiences I have ever had.”

This was a unique experience for the Mission Bay students to learn about sailing in general, the ocean and its secrets — even themselves. The voyage was funded by the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) as part of a federal grant.